Istanpitta Feb 04, 7:30pm, Medieval music ensemble explores expulsion of Jews from Medieval Spain to Middle East highlighting cultural fusion of Western and Eastern influences in Spain with songs, instrumental works and stories. $15. 245-3069. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 217-245-3000.

Nathan Carls and the upStandard Citizens Feb 14, 8pm, Romantic music for Valentine Day. $13-$12. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Ruth Moody Band Feb 11, 8pm, Singer/songwriter and founding member of internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin’ Jennys goes solo. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800-207-6960.

Sangamon Valley Community Orchestra Feb 15, 7:30pm, “Music from the New World.” $10-$5. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Springfield Classical Guitar Society Feb 04, 8pm, Michael Hull of Bradley University. $12 adults, $9 students. 726-8991. Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2313 Whittier Ave, 217- 522-7331.

T-Pain, Gym Class Heroes Feb 09, 5:30pm, Hip-hop crossover sensation and evereclectic Gym Class Heroes.

Special guests Outasight, Grieves & Budo and Cris Cab. $25-$35. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000. ValenDine Feb 11, 5-10pm, cocktails, dinner and music of Sande Hackel Orchestra. $50 couple. $25 dancing only. Register by Feb. 8, 422-5911. Hickory Point Golf Course Club House, 727 Weaver Road, Forsyth.

DANCE

Dance Feb 03, 7-9pm, Free dance first Friday of every month for individuals with disabilities. Semiformal dress attire. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St.

Kuumba Dance Troupe Feb 13, 12-1pm, Young Christians in Action, youths ages 9-22 who express their creativity and praise to their creator through dance. A. Lincoln Commons. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

Cirque du Soleil: Quidam Feb 15- 19, 3:30pm Fri-Sat, 7:30pm Wed-Sat, 1pm and 5pm Sun. Eight amazing athletic performances that you won't want to miss. $30-$95. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 800-745- 3000.

St. Jude Valentine Dinner Dance Feb 11, 6-11:30pm, Dinner, drinks, entertainment and dancing. Benefits St.Jude Children’s Hospital. Gymnasium. Little Flower School, 900 Stevenson Drive, 217-341-2048.

The GROOVE WCS Dance Feb 04, 7-11pm, WCS, NC2, C2S, Hustle. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428- 1560.

ART & ARCHITECTURE

After 5 Live: Millikin Faculty Showcase Feb 03, 5-7:30pm, Enjoy music by the Eidolan Quintet and refreshments from Lock, Stock, and Barrel. Blue Connection, 117 N. Water St, Decatur, 428-0112.

Central Illinois Scholastic Exhibition Feb 02-03, 06-10, 13-15, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Through Feb. 25, gallery filled with artwork of 7-12th grade students from 21 Illinois counties. Reception Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.

Featured Artist Brian Allen Feb 02-04, 06-08, 10am-5:30pm Mon- Sat, Woodworking, hand-crafted clocks, frames and trivets. The Blue Door Gallery, 214 South 6th St, 217-753- 0262.

Gallery Hours Feb 05, 07-12, 14-15, 4-6pm Tue- Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Feb. 5-26, Jeff Coultas - Photography. Opening reception Feb. 4, 6-8 p.m. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

On and Of Paper: ISM Selections Feb 02-15, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12- 5pm Sun, Through April 2012, exhibit of all things paper. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

Summer In The French-Italian Riviera Feb 02-03, 07-10, 14-15, 10am-2pm Tue-Fri, Through March 30, photo exhibit by students who studied abroad. (Opening reception Feb. 3, 5-7 p.m.), Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 522-8977.

That’s Love, Baby - Allison Lacher Feb 02, 06-09, 13-15, 11am-6pm Mon- Thu, Feb 2-Mar 8, sculptural and installation-based works by UIS Professor of Visual Arts and Gallery Manager. Reception Feb. 9 from 5:30-8 p.m. UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza, 217-206-6506.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

KidsFest Feb 04, 10am-4pm, Educational booths, demos, sports, activities, entertainment and more. $3. Benefits Children’s Miracle Network. Prairie

Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

Super Saturdays at the Museum Feb 11, 11am-3pm, “Get the Beat! African-American Musicians.” Free, thematic activities especially recommended for children ages 4-8. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782- 6044.

SCIENCE

Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture Feb 08, 7-8:30pm, “Known by me to be a freeman of colour”: Telling the Jameson Jenkins Story at Lincoln Home National Historic Site.” Timothy Townsend, historian at Lincoln Home. Free and open to public. Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St, 785-0037.

NATURE

Frog Watch Volunteer Training Feb 09, 6-8pm, Learning session to help with research program held two Mondays. (Second session Feb. 19 and 26 from 4-6 p.m.) Phone, 753-6217. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Prairie State Orchid Society Display and Sale Feb 11-12, 12-4pm Sat, 3pm Sun, Exotic tropical orchids displayed in juried competition. Buy and learn from orchid experts. Free admission. 753-6228. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave.

Springfield Civic Garden Club Feb 06, 9-11:30am, Claudia Buchanan, of Peoria and Kewanee Garden Clubs, shares her floral design ideas. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

ENVIRONMENT

Central Illinois Composting Symposium Feb 15, 12-5pm, “Composting for a Sustainable Community: From Backyards to Farms.” $25-30, students free. 786- 2407. llcc.edu/greencenter. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786- 2200.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

AWC Meeting Feb 08, 11:30am networking, 12pm lunch, ‘Non-Traditional Advertising and the Media Buy.’ $21-$16. RSVP [email protected]. Sangamo Club, 227 E. Adams St, 544-1793.

Chatham Kiwanis Club Meeting Feb 02, 09, 6:15pm, Civic organization meets every Thursday. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 725-6467.

Lincolnland Depression Era Glass Club Feb 06, 6-8pm, Program: Westmoreland Zodiac Items. Carnegie room. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 546-6795.

Occupy Springfield Meetings Feb 02, 07, 09, 14, 7pm, (Also, Saturdays at 1 p.m. at Gallina’s Restaurant, 432 E. Monroe Street.), AFSCME Council 31, 615 S. Second Street. Q.U.I.L.T.S. Feb 13, 7pm, Second Monday of each month. All skill levels welcome. springfieldquilts.com. Atonement Lutheran Church, 2800 W. Jefferson St.

Sex Addicts Anonymous Feb 02, 06, 09, 13, 7:30pm Mon and 6:30pm Thu, For those seeking freedom from addictive sexual behavior. Meeting info, [email protected]. Confidentiality assured. Various locations.

Springfield Camera Club Feb 09, 7pm, Meets second and fourth Thursday each month. 546-5021. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St.

Women Entrepreneurs - Central Illinois Feb 08, 11:30am-1pm, ‘Acting Locally- Girl Tech.’ $25-$17. Register by Feb. 3. 725-8500 or [email protected]. Boulevard Tap and Grill, 2413 S MacArthur Blvd.

BULLETIN BOARD

A High Tea Feb 12, 3pm, Elegant and prepared by finest bakers and chefs in town.

$25-$20. RSVP by Feb. 6 to 727-7223, ext. 18 or [email protected]. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St, 525-1360.

Adopt-A-Pet Adoptions Feb 04, 12-3:30pm, Rescued dogs and cats, spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated. 835-2538. Petco, 2721 S. Veterans Parkway, 217-793-7387.

Battle of Iwo Jima Remembrance Feb 04, 10am, Veterans and public invited. Limited space. RSVP by phone, 546-5577. Montvale Estates, 2601 Montvale Drive.

Craft Art Show Feb 12, 6-10pm, Live music, bar menu, art, beer and cocktails and great Valentine’s Day gifts, American Harvest Eatery, 3241 W. Iles.

Del Peterson & Associates Equipment Auction Feb 02, 9am-3pm, Midway Area (ea Section). (402) 721-4388. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782- 8886.

First Fridays Downtown Feb 03, 5-8pm, Stroll, shop eat downtown. Exhibitions, live music, great deals and fun surprises. Every first Friday. 544-1723. Downtown Springfield.

Flight 93 Memorial Bowling Fundraiser Feb 05, 4pm, Non-sanctioned, hosted by UIS Republicans and Democrats. Bowling begins 5 p.m. sharp. 309-502- 9631. AMF Laketown Lanes, 3220 Stanton St, 217-529-1666.

Go Red Connect Casting Call Feb 04, 1-3pm, Local women invited to tell their stories and be considered for national Go Red For Women campaign. heart.org/springfield 698-3838, ext 5. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave, 217-787-8560.

IL FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction Feb 04, 12:30pm, Trips, travel, sports tickets to raise funds for FFA High School Students throughout state to attend leadership conferences. Northfield Inn Suites & Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Dr, 753-3328.

Keys to My Heart Feb 11, 6pm, Robert and Sara “Not Your Mom’s Dueling Pianos.” Elegant buffet dinner (cash bar available) and silent auction. Hamilton’s, 110 N. East St, Jacksonville, 479-2300.

LLCC Homecoming Feb 04, 1pm and 3pm, 8pm dance, ‘Las Vegas’ women’s and men’s basketball games and dance. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

Lincoln-Douglas Banquet Feb 12, 2:45pm, Hosted by the NAACP. Tickets, 789-2721. Crowne Plaza, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy. Loving Guidance Workshop Feb 04, 9am-3pm, Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 217-753-0702.

Naturalization Ceremony Feb 10, 2pm, Public invited to witness citizenship candidates take Oath of Allegiance and receive Certificate of Naturalization. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-7960.

PechaKucha Night Feb 09, 7:20pm, 6:20 doors open, Local creatives make six-minute, 40-second presentations (20 slides, 20 seconds each) on creative topics. Tickets, [email protected]. 789- 2377. City Nights Theater, 3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy.

SHG Black & Gold Mardi Gras Feb 11, 7pm, Live mice Races, Live & silent auctions, DJ, photo booth, cash bar and more. SHG West Campus, Springfield, 787-9732. Singing Valentines Feb 14, 8am-8pm, Capital City Men’s Chorus will sing for your sweetie. 217- 953-0225.

Used Book Sale Feb 07-08, 7am-3pm , Benefits Children’s Miracle Network at St. John’s Children’s Hospital. St. John’s Hospital, 800 E. Carpenter St, 217-544-6464 ext. 45160.

Valentines Dinner/Dance Feb 10, 5:30pm, Cash bar, dinner, dancing to Big Shake Daddies Band, auctions. Advance reservations required.

$30. jacksonvillerotary.org, 371-1541. Hamilton’s, 110 N. East St, Jacksonville.

Volunteers Sought Feb 15, 5:30-7:30pm, Attend first meeting, then three others Feb. 29, Mar. 7 and 14 to train for museum and library. Register 558-8872. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St, 217-558-8844.

FOOD

Sugar and Spice Chili Supper Feb 10, 3-8pm, Ticket gets bowl of chili or vegetable soup, hot dog, dessert, drink and entertainment. $7-$5. 793- 2100 ext. 167 or at door. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415.

POLITICS

Drinking Coffee Liberally Feb 04, 11, 9am, Every Saturday. Have coffee, breakfast and conversation with fellow progressives. springfieldil@drink

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